AUTHOR=Li Yajuan , Hu Xianwei , Tu Youhui , Wu Tao , Wang Bo , Ma Huan , Zeng Weihong , Zhao Dan , Mengist Hylemariam Mihiretie , Kombe Arnaud John Kombe , Zheng Meijuan , Xu Yuanhong , Jin Tengchuan TITLE=A Low Viral Dose in COVID-19 Patient: A Case Report JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health VOLUME=8 YEAR=2020 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00339 DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2020.00339 ISSN=2296-2565 ABSTRACT=

SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has attracted global attention. Verifying the presence of viral RNA is the gold standard for the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, RT-qPCR diagnosis often fails to catch infected patients, because of inconsistent swab sample collection. Here we report a case that showed 5 consecutive negative and 1 low-viral- dose RT-qPCR results during illness spanning over 20 days. Clinical symptoms suggest SARS-CoV-2 infection with typical ground glass like a lung in computed tomography. SARS-CoV-2 infection was serologically confirmed by the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in patients' serum. Finally, a high level of protective IgG was produced after the patient recovered. Surprisingly, as a barber and a housewife staying at home for the first 2 weeks after the onset of illness, none of the close contacts were infected, showing a case of low viral load and low infectivity in this patient.